Salinity differently affects antioxidant content and amino acid profile in two cultivars of Amaranthus cruentus differing in salinity tolerance

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Amaranthus cruentus is a promising leafy vegetable with high nutritional value and is able to cope with salt stress but the impact of sodium chloride (NaCl) on its main properties have not been studied in detail. Plants from two contrasting cultivars (Rouge: salt-tolerant and Locale: salt-sensitive) were exposed to NaCl (0, 30, 60 and 90 mmol L -1 ) in nutrient solution for 2 weeks. Plant growth, mineral content, oxidative status and antioxidant concentration, salicylic acid concentration, protein content and amino acid profile were analyzed in the harvested leaves.RESULTS: Low dose (30 mmol L -1 NaCl) increased plant growth while Na + accumulated to higher extent in salt-sensitive Locale than in salt-tolerant Rouge. A total of 30 mmol L -1 NaCl increased magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P) and iron (Fe) content, as well as total antioxidant activity, ascorbate, phenolics, ⊍-tocopherol and carotenoids content to higher extent in cultivar (cv.) Rouge than in cv. Locale. Low (30 mmol L -1 ) and moderate salinities (60 mmol L -1 ) increased γ-tocopherol and total protein in cv. Locale. They also increased lysine, valine, methionine and proline concentration as well as chemical score of protein in this cultivar. The highest NaCl (90 mmol L -1 ) dose had a detrimental impact on both cultivars. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that A. cruentus is a promising plant species for saline agriculture since moderate doses of salt improve both quantitative and qualitative parameters in cultivar dependent manner.

Comparison of Salt Stress Tolerance among Two Leaf and Six Grain Cultivars of Amaranthus cruentus L.

“…Our results showed that the salt response of A. cruentus may differ according to the NaCl concentration. A previous study on A. cruentus leaf cultivars found that a low concentration of NaCl in hydroponic conditions could stimulate several parameters related to mineral content and oxidative status [ 34 ]. After two weeks of exposure, 30 mM NaCl had a positive effect on the plant growth and health compared to control conditions, whereas higher concentrations (60 and 90 mM) had detrimental effects [ 34 ].…”

“…A previous study on A. cruentus leaf cultivars found that a low concentration of NaCl in hydroponic conditions could stimulate several parameters related to mineral content and oxidative status [ 34 ]. After two weeks of exposure, 30 mM NaCl had a positive effect on the plant growth and health compared to control conditions, whereas higher concentrations (60 and 90 mM) had detrimental effects [ 34 ]. After 4 weeks of exposure to 50 and 100 mM NaCl, the results of the present experiment differed substantially.…”

“…However, a surge in interest for amaranths has arisen in the last few decades because of their nutritive qualities [ 25 , 26 , 27 ] and their tolerance to several biotic and abiotic stresses. Among grain species, studies have been conducted on salinity [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ] and drought [ 35 , 36 ] in A. cruentus , on salinity in A. caudatus [ 37 , 38 ] and salt and drought in A. hypochondriacus [ 39 , 40 ]. The plant response to abiotic stress has also been investigated in some leaf species, such as A. tricolor [ 41 , 42 , 43 ] or A. hybridus and A. albus [ 44 ].…”

In vitro bioproduction and enhancement of moscatilin from a threatened tropical epiphytic orchid, Dendrobium ovatum (Willd.) Kraenzl

“…Additionally, the role of genes PAL and TAL (encoding, tyrosine ammonia-lyase) has also been described in phenylpropanoid metabolism (Barros and Dixon 2020). Studies have reported the increased activities of these two genes under various biotic and abiotic stresses, leading to more metabolite accumulation (Lu et al 2016;Luyckx et al 2021;Nisar et al 2021;Sasi et al 2021). Along with these two genes, the role of STS has been specifically related to the accumulation of stilbenes, as a decline in the expression of STS decreases its biosynthesis (Jeandet et al 2012).…”

Study on Environmental Conditions of Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Invasive Plant <i>Amaranthus palmeri</i> S. Watson

“…Amaranthus spinosus seeds have moderate adaptabilities to salt concentrations among Amaranthus species. Salt resistance trends of Amaranthus palmeri seeds are similar to those of Amaranthus cruentus [33,54,55], stronger than those of Amaranthus retroflexus, Amaranthus blitoides, and Amaranthus albus, and weaker than those of Amaranthus tricolor and Amaranthus giganticus [33,35,36,56].…”